PREP TRACK: El Camino's Gibbs sets section record at state prelims

CLOVIS ---- The goal all season has been a school record. Jasmine Gibbs proved to be so fleet on Friday night that she blew right past that goal, and took it one step further.

Gibbs has been chasing the El Camino High school record in the 100-meter dash but at the CIF state prelims at Veterans Memorial Stadium she shattered a 28-year-old section record owned by Olympian Gail Devers.

Gibbs' time of 11.43 eclipsed both Devers' section record (11.51) and Jolanda Diego's school record (11.65). She also was the No. 1 qualifier, making her the overnight favorite to win a state title in today's finals. Gibbs has won seven section titles ---- three in the long jump, two in the 100 and two in the 200.

This is her fourth trip to the state meet. She has never won a title here.

Starts have always been a bit of an issue with the Kansas State-bound sprinter and jumper, but she got off to a good start on Friday.

"Usually I see people getting out before me," Gibbs said. "So then I have to catch them. But I think I was with them."

Diego is a friend of Gibbs' sister, and did some work as an assistant coach with the team this season.

"I'm just really happy that I finally got the school record," Gibbs said. "I've been talking about that all year."

She was also the No. 2-qualifier in the long jump at 19 feet, 4½ inches, just a quarter-inch behind Alexis Faulknor of Gardena Serra, as the Wildcats sent three through to the state finals in that event. Mishe Scott (19-0) and Tamika Brazzel (18-10) also will be competing for medals in that event today.

"It's pretty darn incredible to even make it, all three of us to make it to state," Scott said. "To be able to go to finals is that much better. We push each other. That makes it easier to get it done."

High jumper Danielle Bryan was the top qualifier in the high jump (5-7) for the Wildcats, who are poised for a top finish in the team standings. They also got Brazzel through in the triple jump (39-10½) and Gibbs made the final in the 200 (24.06).

La Costa Canyon's Darren Fahy won his heat in the 1,600 (4:14.07) and Army-Navy Academy's Alex Monsivaiz topped his heat in the 800 (1:51.92), putting them in position for individual state titles. Fahy will also be competing in the 3,200, which did not have any prelim heats on Friday.

Fahy, the state cross country champion, enters the 3,200 with the top time in California this year, an 8:54.51 that he ran at the Arcadia Invitational in April.

"I'm really excited for (today)," said Fahy. "It's going to be a tough day. But I'm peaking, so we'll see what happens."

Monsivaiz had the best time in the state this year in the 800 (1:50.47).

The defending state champion in the girls shot put, Breana Jemison of Carlsbad, was the No. 4 qualifier in that event, and somewhat surprisingly, the top qualifier in the discus.

"Today was a hot day so I think a lot of girls were effected," Jemison said. "I've got to get it out there. I just did whatever I could.

"Being first in anything is an accomplishment."

Cathedral Catholic junior Grant Zebold won his heat in 300 intermediate hurdles (37.47) and was just .03 off the top qualifier, Jarret Gonzales of La Verne Damien.

Dylan McCloskey of El Camino and Evan Gray of Poway went 1-2 in the section finals in the 100, and grabbed the final two spots in the state finals. Gray ran 10.66 and McCloskey 10.67. Later in the night, McCloskey came back to post the No. 3 qualifying time in the 200 (21.45).

Last year, four section athletes made the finals in the 110 high hurdles, this year Julian Todd-Borden of La Costa Canyon (14.24) and Isiah Jackson of El Camino (14.39) made it with the second- and fourth-best times, respectively.